Hungarian-born Koppany Kiss ran the Dental Magic clinic in Spencer Dock in Dublin until last month - but it has now emerged he had already been struck off in the UK and Hungary. He has now left the country leaving several patients with up to €10,000 of unfinished dental work.

Gardaí confirmed they have taken statements and are trying to establish if any criminal offence has been committed.

One patient has claimed she had six of her teeth removed at the clinic in preparation for new implants. But he never completed the work.

A loophole in outdated legislation governing dentists in Ireland means the Dental Council, which regulates the profession, has no powers of sanction. Anyone can set up a dental clinic here without being registered. It means patients are left in limbo if anything unexpected happens.

Mr Kiss was struck off in Peterborough in England in 2006 after a female patient told an inquiry he left her in pain, describing him as brusque and not very soothing. He said he had too many patients to be gentle.

Following an inquiry the UK's General Medical Council said that "for the protection of the public" it was necessary to immediately suspend him.

A former patient of the Dublin clinic, which is near the city's financial hub, said after he put in screws to hold implants she faced problems getting the work completed. "When I came back the clinic was closed and Mr Kiss was gone."

The need to urgently update laws governing dentists was raised at the AGM of the Irish Dental Association yesterday.

Alarmed

Chief executive Fintan Hourihan said: "In the last number of months, the Association has been alarmed to learn of claims that patients are being seen here in Ireland by a dentist whom it is alleged has been struck off in another jurisdiction and whom also, it is alleged, is not registered to practice here at all.

"We have also received claims that patients are seen in clinics here in Ireland by dentists commuting from abroad every couple of weeks to see patients.

"And we are all aware of instances where patients commence treatment in this country and have that treatment completed outside the jurisdiction beyond the reach of the Dental Council. We are concerned about the redress to patients."

The Department of Health said the legislation governing dentists dating back to 1985 is being reviewed.